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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
1.8.51.8.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.8.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

याजयित्वाश्वमेधैस्तं त्रिभिरुत्तमकल्पकै: ।

तद्यश: पावनं दिक्षु शतमन्योरिवातनोत् ॥ ६ ॥

yājayitvāśvamedhais taṁ

tribhir uttama-kalpakaiḥ

tad-yaśaḥ pāvanaṁ dikṣu

śata-manyor ivātanot

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa caused three well-performed aśvamedha-yajñas [horse sacrifices] to be conducted by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and thus caused his virtuous fame to be glorified in all directions, like that of Indra, who had performed one hundred such sacrifices.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Makes One Receptive to Mercy

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa arranged for Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira to perform three aśvamedha-yajñas. His virtuous fame spread like that of Indra, who had performed one hundred.

  2. 2

    Yudhiṣṭhira’s fame equaled that of the much more opulent King of heaven because he was a pure devotee. This was possible only by the Lord’s grace.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s mercy is equally distributed, like sunshine, but receptivity differs. Those wholly devoted to Him receive His full mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • This is something like the preface to the performances of aśvamedha-yajña by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
  • The King of heaven is thousands and thousands of times greater than Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira in opulence, yet the fame of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was not less.
  • The reason is that Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was a pure devotee of the Lord, and by His grace only was King Yudhiṣṭhira on the level of the King of heaven, even though he performed only three yajñas whereas the King of heaven performed hundreds.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Grief → Trust. Violence and bereavement make Kṛṣṇa's protective presence precious.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 1: Postwar anguish, Kuntī and Bhīṣma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved

Kṛṣṇa protects Parīkṣit, Kuntī prays for undivided attraction to Him, and Yudhiṣṭhira grieves.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yājayitvāby performing
  2. aśvamedhaiḥyajña in which a horse is sacrificed
  3. tamhim (King Yudhiṣṭhira)
  4. tribhiḥthree
  5. uttamabest
  6. kalpakaiḥsupplied with proper ingredients and performed by able priests
  7. tatthat
  8. yaśaḥfame
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “glorified”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Are you giving more attention to outward achievement or to becoming receptive through devotion?

Practice

Set aside a few undistracted minutes today for devotional service, focusing on sincerity rather than quantity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Makes One Receptive to MercyThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 1.8.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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